Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line magazines

Cover photo: Network Rail's restoration & refurbishment of Garsdale Station was recognised last year with a National rail Heritage Award. FoSCL contributed £10,000 toward the cost and paid for information display boards inside the waiting rooms; the display boards were professionally designed by Pam Harrington who donated her services to the project. Seen receiving the award at Garsdale on 1 July are (l-r) Patrick Cawley (Network rail), Sarah MacManus (First Group national property manager), Douglas Hodgins (Settle-carlisle Railway Development Company) and Mark Rand (FoSCL Chairman).

Cover photo: FoSCL Chairman Richard Morris and Settle-Carlisle Development Company Chairman Douglas Hodgins visited Minister of State for Transport the Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers M.P. on Wednesday 11 July. Richard is seen here (right) with Member of Parliament for Carlisle - John Stevenson - after leaving the DfT.

Cover photo: Traditional methods of train control are soon to be superseded by modern technology. The photo shows 37604 and 37608 on the radio mast survey test train at Blea Moor, 5 June 2013, assessing coverage from the new communications masts. Blea Moor signal box is likely to disappear by 2020.

Cover Picture: ‘Country Walking’ magazine recently polled its readers asking”What’s the best railway line for walkers?” 52% said the Settle-Carlisle line. Here walkers are seen ascending Arten Gill during one leg of the ‘Walk the Line’ series; these are being led by FoSCL and the Friends of Dalesrail as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. They follow the route described by Vivienne Crow in her book ‘Settle to Carlisle Way’.

The Ride2stride walking festival was held this year from April 28th to May 4th. Visitors from as far afield as Canada (Vancouver),the USA (Chicago, South Carolina and Texas), the Netherlands, Germany and Australia visited, rode on the S&C, stayed in local accommodation and patronised local businesses. Here some walkers are seen at Crooke Gill, Pen-y-ghent on Monday May 4th.

On August 4th a party of invited guests, together with FoSCL members and committee members, celebrated the opening of the new waiting shelter at Settle Station. Here Andy Savage, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, cuts the ribbon as FoSCL Chairman Douglas Hodgins looks on.

February 2011
Cover photo: Work in progress at Kirkby Stephen July 2007Photo. Gordon Allen/Network Rail

This issue reports on thevarious successes of the FoSCL 'Five year vision' and invites members to make their views known for the future - the members forum on the web site is an ideal way of doing this and some of the early postings are reported in the magazine.

The full magazine is normally available for download when the following one comes out. As a member of FoSCL you receive the printed version four times a year.

Cover photo: Part of FoSCL's campaigning in the next few years will be for better trains on the S&C. 2014 may see rolling stock 'cascaded' from other lines on completion of electrification schemes. Could this First TransPennine Class 185 - seen at Melton Ross, near Barnetby, on a Manchester Airport-Cleethorpes working - be heading for the S&C?

Cover Picture: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the saving of the S&C, FoSCL and Northern Rail are
collaborating on a special train which will run on Sunday, April 13th between Blackpool and Carlisle. Two
days earlier, the S&C Development Co. are running a special train from Leeds to Carlisle using the DRS
stock seen here at Arten Gill viaduct in Stobart livery, topped and tailed by 47832 and 47712 .

Cover photo: Fewer diversions use the S&C than previously, with rail replacement bus substitution seeming the preferred option. A Glasgow-Penzance Virgin Voyager diverted from the West Coast Main Line is shown in Garsdale on 14 May 2005.

'Breaking trail' - The 09.00 (Sundays only) Leeds-Carlisle service is the first train of the day on 17 Januaery after overnight snow. So far this winter it is rain, rather than snow, which has caused problems on the S&C

Cover photo: A Northern Rail unit at Kirkby Stephen on January 5th 2010. At the time of writing this winter has been mild and thus a disappointment for those of us who enjoy scenes like this. However it has been a boon to those working on the repairs at Eden Brows; and the Settle Carlisle will be fully open again on March 31st unless something unexpected occurs.

Cover photo: Just one week before Easter the S&C was blocked by snow; this resulted in snow ploughs being sent to clear the line. Here the driver has been able to photograph his machine outside Blea Moor signal box.